1
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Thienpont A, Cho E, Williams A, Meier MJ, Yauk CL, Beal MA, Van Goethem F, Rogiers V, Vanhaecke T, Mertens B. In vitro to in vivo extrapolation modeling to facilitate the integration of transcriptomics data into genotoxicity assessment. Toxicology 2025; 515:154165. [PMID: 40288562 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2025.154165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2025] [Revised: 04/18/2025] [Accepted: 04/23/2025] [Indexed: 04/29/2025]
Abstract
In vitro transcriptomics holds promise for high-throughput, human-relevant data but is not yet integrated into regulatory decision-making due to the lack of standardized approaches. For genotoxicity assessment, transcriptomic biomarkers such as GENOMARK and TGx-DDI facilitate qualitative and quantitative analysis of complex in vitro transcriptomic datasets. However, advancing their use in quantitative testing requires standardized methods for deriving transcriptomic Points of Departure (tPoDs) and linking them to in vivo responses. Herein, we investigated different approaches to calculate tPoDs and applied in vitro to in vivo extrapolation to obtain administered equivalent doses (AEDs). Human HepaRG cells were exposed for 72 h to 10 known in vivo genotoxicants (glycidol, methyl methanesulfonate, nitrosodimethylamine, 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide, aflatoxin B1, colchicine, cyclophosphamide, mitomycin C, ethyl methanesulfonate, and N-Nitroso-N-ethylurea) from the highest concentration that induces up to 50 % cytotoxicity through a range of lower concentrations. Gene expression data was generated using a customized version of the TempO-Seq® human S1500 + gene panel. The GENOMARK and TGx-DDI biomarkers produced genotoxic calls for all of these reference genotoxicants. Next, we performed benchmark concentration (BMC) modeling to generate both genotoxicity-specific biomarker (tPoDbiomarkers) and generic tPoDs (tPoD S1500+). High-throughput toxicokinetic models estimated the human AEDs for these tPoDs, which were compared with (a) previously reported genotoxicity-specific AEDs from other New Approach Methodologies, and (b) in vivo PoDs from animal studies. We found that the generic AEDs were more conservative than genotoxicity-specific biomarker AEDs. For six of the nine genotoxicants, transcriptomic AEDs were lower than the in vivo PoDs; refined kinetic models may improve predictions. Overall, in vitro transcriptomic data in HepaRG cells provide protective estimates of in vivo genotoxic concentrations, consistent with other in vitro genotoxicity testing systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anouck Thienpont
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels 1090, Belgium; Department of Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Brussels 1050, Belgium.
| | - Eunnara Cho
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Andrew Williams
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Matthew J Meier
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Carole L Yauk
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Marc A Beal
- Bureau of Chemical Safety, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Freddy Van Goethem
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels 1090, Belgium
| | - Vera Rogiers
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels 1090, Belgium
| | - Tamara Vanhaecke
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels 1090, Belgium
| | - Birgit Mertens
- Department of Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Brussels 1050, Belgium.
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2
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Choi MA, Rose S, Langouët S. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as potentiators of hepatotoxicity in an exposome framework: Current challenges of environmental toxicology. Toxicology 2025; 515:154167. [PMID: 40300710 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2025.154167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2025] [Revised: 04/17/2025] [Accepted: 04/26/2025] [Indexed: 05/01/2025]
Abstract
Chronic liver diseases, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatosic liver disease (MASLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), are on the rise, potentially due to daily exposure to complex mixtures of chemical compounds forming part of the exposome. Understanding the mechanisms involved in hepatotoxicity of these mixtures is essential to identify common molecular targets that may highlight potential interactions at the molecular level. We illustrated this issue with two families of environmental contaminants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs), both of which could be involved in the progression of chronic liver diseases, and whose toxicity may be potentiated by interactions at the level of xenobiotic metabolism. In the study of exposome effects on chronic liver disease, New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) including omics analyses and data from various in vitro, in vivo and in silico approaches, are crucial for improving predictivity of toxicological studies in humans while reducing animal experimentation. Additionally, the development of complex in vitro human liver cell models, such as organoids, is essential to avoid interspecies differences that minimize the risk for humans. All together, these approaches will contribute to construct Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) and could be applied not only to PFAS mixtures but also to other chemical families, providing valuable insights into mixture hepatotoxicity prediction in the study of the exposome. A better understanding of toxicological mechanisms will clarify the role of environmental contaminant mixtures in the development of MASLD and HCC, supporting risk assessment for better treatment, monitoring and prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minna A Choi
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes 35000, France
| | - Sophie Rose
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes 35000, France
| | - Sophie Langouët
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes 35000, France.
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3
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Lendewig M, Marquez R, Franco J, Vera RE, Vivas KA, Forfora N, Venditti RA, Gonzalez R. PFAS regulations and economic impact: A review of U.S. pulp & paper and textiles industries. CHEMOSPHERE 2025; 377:144301. [PMID: 40203642 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2025] [Accepted: 03/05/2025] [Indexed: 04/11/2025]
Abstract
Public concern over per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continues to grow as evidence highlights their persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and adverse health effects. Increasing detections in drinking water, consumer products, and industrial discharges have intensified regulatory scrutiny. This review examines the evolving PFAS regulatory landscape in the United States, focusing on the pulp, paper, and textiles industries, which contribute significantly to PFAS contamination through wastewater discharges, end-product disposal, and the absence of dedicated removal technologies. PFAS emissions from food packaging alone are estimated at 2,300 kg annually. Addressing contamination presents substantial economic challenges, with wastewater treatment costs projected to reach USD 3 billion annually and growing risks of legal liabilities exemplified by paper mill settlements reaching USD 11.9 million for historical pollution. Large-scale remediation of PFAS remains financially prohibitive, with estimates exceeding the global gross domestic product (GDP) of USD 106 trillion. Additionally, healthcare costs for PFAS-linked diseases exceed USD 62 billion and further emphasize the need for prevention. State-level restrictions on PFAS-containing consumer products are expanding, particularly in food packaging and textiles, which are now the most regulated across the United States. As PFAS-containing products face increasing market limitations and potential loss of sustainability certifications, which have already reduced sales growth by 70% in some cases, transitioning to non-fluorinated alternatives could significantly mitigate economic risks for paper and textiles companies. Within this context, this review highlights the urgency of integrating policy, technological innovation, and economic incentives to accelerate the transition away from PFAS and mitigate long-term environmental and financial liabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Lendewig
- Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, Box 8005, Raleigh, NC, 27695-8005, USA
| | - Ronald Marquez
- Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, Box 8005, Raleigh, NC, 27695-8005, USA
| | - Jorge Franco
- Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, Box 8005, Raleigh, NC, 27695-8005, USA
| | - Ramon E Vera
- Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, Box 8005, Raleigh, NC, 27695-8005, USA
| | - Keren A Vivas
- Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, Box 8005, Raleigh, NC, 27695-8005, USA
| | - Naycari Forfora
- Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, Box 8005, Raleigh, NC, 27695-8005, USA
| | - Richard A Venditti
- Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, Box 8005, Raleigh, NC, 27695-8005, USA
| | - Ronalds Gonzalez
- Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, Box 8005, Raleigh, NC, 27695-8005, USA.
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4
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Carberry CK, Hartwell H, Rider CV, Wheeler M, Auerbach S, Rager JE. Extracellular Vesicle (EV) Mechanisms of Toxicity for Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: Comparing Transcriptomic Points of Departure Across Global Versus EV Regulatory Gene Sets. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2025; 66:99-121. [PMID: 40105262 PMCID: PMC11991898 DOI: 10.1002/em.70008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2024] [Revised: 01/31/2025] [Accepted: 03/07/2025] [Indexed: 03/20/2025]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emitted from cells throughout the body and serve as signaling molecules that mediate disease development. Emerging evidence suggests that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) impact EV release and content, influencing liver toxicity. Still, the upstream regulators of EV changes affected by PFAS exposure remain unclear. This study evaluated the hypothesis that PFAS exposures, individually and in a mixture, alter the expression of genes involved in EV regulation at concentrations comparable to genes involved in global biological response mechanisms. HepG2 liver cells were treated at multiple concentrations with individual PFOS, PFOA, or PFHxA, in addition to an equimolar PFAS mixture. Gene expression data were analyzed using three pipelines for concentration-response modeling, with results compared against empirically derived datasets. Final benchmark concentration (BMC) modeling was conducted via Laplace model averaging in BMDExpress (v3). BMCs were derived at an individual gene level and across different gene sets, including Gene Ontology (GO) annotations as well as a custom EV regulation gene set. To determine relative PFAS contributions to the evaluated mixture, relative potency factors were calculated across resulting BMCs using PFOS as a standard reference chemical. Results demonstrated that PFAS exposures altered the expression of genes involved in EV regulation, particularly for genes overlapping with endoplasmic reticulum stress. EV regulatory gene changes occurred at similar BMCs as global gene set alterations, supporting concurrent regulation and the role of EVs in PFAS toxicology. This application of transcriptomics-based BMC modeling further validates its utility in capturing both established and novel pathways of toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste K. Carberry
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hadley Hartwell
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Cynthia V. Rider
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Matthew Wheeler
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, RTP, NC, USA
| | - Scott Auerbach
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Julia E. Rager
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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5
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Jones RM, Kulick ER, Snead R, Wilson RT, Hughes J, Lillys T. Enhanced spatial analysis assessing the association between PFAS-contaminated water and cancer incidence: rationale, study design, and methods. BMC Cancer 2025; 25:101. [PMID: 39833723 PMCID: PMC11744822 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-025-13508-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2025] [Indexed: 01/22/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer is a complex set of diseases, and many have decades-long lag times between possible exposure and diagnosis. Environmental exposures, such as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and area-level risk factors (e.g., socioeconomic variables), vary for people over time and space. Evidence suggests PFAS exposure is associated with several cancers; however, studies to date have various limitations. Few studies have used rigorous spatiotemporal approaches, and, to our knowledge, none have assessed cumulative exposures given residential histories or incorporated chemical mixture modeling. Thus, spatiotemporal analysis using advanced statistical approaches, accounting for spatially structured and unstructured heterogeneity in risk, can be a highly informative strategy for addressing the potential health effects of PFAS exposure. METHODS Using population-based incident cancer cases and cancer-free controls in a 12-county area of southeastern Pennsylvania, we will apply Bayesian spatiotemporal analysis methods using historically reconstructed PFAS-contaminated water exposure given residential histories, and other potential cancer determinants over time. Bayesian group index models enable assessment of various mixtures of highly correlated PFAS chemical exposures incorporating mobility/residential history, and contextual factors to determine the association of PFAS-related exposures and cancer incidence. DISCUSSION The purpose of this paper is to describe the Enhanced PFAS Spatial Analysis study rationale, study design, and methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Resa M Jones
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Temple University, 1301 Cecil B. Moore Ave. Ritter Annex, 9th Floor, Rm 917, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, United States.
- Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
| | - Erin R Kulick
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Temple University, 1301 Cecil B. Moore Ave. Ritter Annex, 9th Floor, Rm 917, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, United States
| | - Ryan Snead
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Temple University, 1301 Cecil B. Moore Ave. Ritter Annex, 9th Floor, Rm 917, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, United States
| | - Robin Taylor Wilson
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Temple University, 1301 Cecil B. Moore Ave. Ritter Annex, 9th Floor, Rm 917, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, United States
- Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - John Hughes
- Department of Community and Population Health, College of Health, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Ted Lillys
- Research Triangle Institute, International, Cary, North Carolina, United States
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6
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Lu EH, Rusyn I, Chiu WA. Incorporating new approach methods (NAMs) data in dose-response assessments: The future is now! JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2025; 28:28-62. [PMID: 39390665 PMCID: PMC11614695 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2024.2412571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2024]
Abstract
Regulatory dose-response assessments traditionally rely on in vivo data and default assumptions. New Approach Methods (NAMs) present considerable opportunities to both augment traditional dose-response assessments and accelerate the evaluation of new/data-poor chemicals. This review aimed to determine the potential utilization of NAMs through a unified conceptual framework that compartmentalizes derivation of toxicity values into five sequential Key Dose-response Modules (KDMs): (1) point-of-departure (POD) determination, (2) test system-to-human (e.g. inter-species) toxicokinetics and (3) toxicodynamics, (4) human population (intra-species) variability in toxicodynamics, and (5) toxicokinetics. After using several "traditional" dose-response assessments to illustrate this framework, a review is presented where existing NAMs, including in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches, might be applied across KDMs. Further, the false dichotomy between "traditional" and NAMs-derived data sources is broken down by organizing dose-response assessments into a matrix where each KDM has Tiers of increasing precision and confidence: Tier 0: Default/generic values, Tier 1: Computational predictions, Tier 2: Surrogate measurements, and Tier 3: Direct measurements. These findings demonstrated that although many publications promote the use of NAMs in KDMs (1) for POD determination and (5) for human population toxicokinetics, the proposed matrix of KDMs and Tiers reveals additional immediate opportunities for NAMs to be integrated across other KDMs. Further, critical needs were identified for developing NAMs to improve in vitro dosimetry and quantify test system and human population toxicodynamics. Overall, broadening the integration of NAMs across the steps of dose-response assessment promises to yield higher throughput, less animal-dependent, and more science-based toxicity values for protecting human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- En-Hsuan Lu
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology and Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America
| | - Ivan Rusyn
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology and Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America
| | - Weihsueh A. Chiu
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology and Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America
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7
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MacMillan DK, Wetmore BA, Dasgupta S, Baldwin WS. Closing the Gaps in Understanding PFAS Toxicology and Metabolism. TOXICS 2024; 13:19. [PMID: 39853019 PMCID: PMC11769177 DOI: 10.3390/toxics13010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2024] [Accepted: 12/25/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2025]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are nearly ubiquitous and found in rivers, soils, atmosphere, food packaging, clothing, cosmetics, commercial products, homes, drinking water, and humans and other organisms [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise K. MacMillan
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Durham, NC 27709, USA;
| | - Barbara A. Wetmore
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Durham, NC 27709, USA;
| | - Subham Dasgupta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; (S.D.); (W.S.B.)
| | - William S. Baldwin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; (S.D.); (W.S.B.)
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8
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Li L, Cao S, Shang X, Zhang L, Guan J, Shao K, Qin N, Duan X. Occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water in China and health risk assessment based on a probabilistic approach. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 480:136072. [PMID: 39388858 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 10/04/2024] [Indexed: 10/12/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) raise concerns due to their widespread distribution, persistence, and toxicity to humans. Current studies lack the use of exposure parameters for Chinese populations and probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) to assess health risks of PFASs. To provide a scientific basis for the standards of PFASs in drinking water in China, data on concentrations of nine PFASs in 649 drinking water samples were collected from China through literature review. The highest concentration of PFASs was 17.41 ± 20.06 ng/L for perfluorobutyric acid (PFBA). Higher concentrations of PFASs were found in the southeastern coastal and in Sichuan Province. The probability of exceeding the standardized limits for drinking water for PFOA and PFOS was 2.71 % and 0.91 %. PRA and deterministic risk assessment (DRA) were used to assess non-carcinogenic risks in different age groups and provinces. Health risks of PFASs from oral exposure notably exceeded dermal contact. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) for oral exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) exceeded the acceptable level with a certain probability. The non-carcinogenic risk of exposure to PFASs in drinking water was negligible for the majority of the Chinese population. The study indicates that China should increase research on limits of PFASs in drinking water to reduce the health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linqian Li
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Suzhen Cao
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xiaochen Shang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Liwen Zhang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jiacheng Guan
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Kan Shao
- Indiana University, School of Public Health Bloomington, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States
| | - Ning Qin
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xiaoli Duan
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
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9
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Meng P, Sheppard N, Joseph S, Duckworth OW, Higgins CP, Knappe DRU. Residential Garden Produce Harvested Near a Fluorochemical Manufacturer in North Carolina Can Be An Important Fluoroether Exposure Pathway. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:26874-26883. [PMID: 39564989 PMCID: PMC11622232 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c06177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2024] [Revised: 10/10/2024] [Accepted: 10/10/2024] [Indexed: 11/21/2024]
Abstract
Dietary intake can be an important exposure route to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Little is known about the bioaccumulation of emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids (PFEAs) in garden produce from PFAS-impacted communities and the associated dietary exposure risk. In this study, 53 produce samples were collected from five residential gardens near a fluorochemical manufacturer. Summed PFAS concentrations ranged from 0.0026 to 38 ng/g wet weight of produce, and water-rich produce exhibited the highest PFAS levels. The PFAS signature was dominated by PFEAs, and hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (commonly known as GenX) was detected in 72% of samples. Based on average measured GenX concentrations, chronic-exposure daily limits were as low as 289 g produce/day for children (3-6 yr). This analysis does not consider other PFEAs that were present at higher concentrations, but for which reference doses were not available. This study revealed that consuming residential garden produce grown in PFAS-impacted communities can be an important exposure pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pingping Meng
- Department
of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, United States
- Department
of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
- Center
for Human Health and the Environment, North
Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Nadia Sheppard
- Department
of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Sarangi Joseph
- Department
of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Owen W. Duckworth
- Department
of Crop and Soil Sciences, North Carolina
State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
- Center
for Human Health and the Environment, North
Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Christopher P. Higgins
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Detlef R. U. Knappe
- Department
of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
- Center
for Human Health and the Environment, North
Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
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10
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Khosrojerdi MA, Lotfi H, Babaei Z, Mirhamidi M, Keyvanloo Shahrestanaki M. Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and bone health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2024; 34:4074-4095. [PMID: 38591760 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2024.2338269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as a large group of synthetic compounds widely contaminated the environment and lead to health problems. However, the correlation between PFAS exposure, bone health parameters and osteoporosis remains controversial. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature to evaluate the effects of PFAS on human bone health. All observational studies were collected up to 2 December 2023. A total of 2096 articles were retrieved. Of these, 21 articles investigated the association between PFAS exposure and human bone health. However, only 10 studies were included in the final meta-analysis. Doubling of serum perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (β = -0.11, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.18, -0.05) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) (β = -0.06, 95% CI: -0.11, -0.01) levels showed significant negative correlations with total body less head bone mineral density (TBLH-BMD). Subgrouping showed that only perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.68) was correlated with osteoporosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Ali Khosrojerdi
- Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
| | - Hadi Lotfi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
| | - Zeinab Babaei
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Mahdi Mirhamidi
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine Emdad Trauma Hospital Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
| | - Mohammad Keyvanloo Shahrestanaki
- Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
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11
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Beal MA, Coughlan MC, Nunnikhoven A, Gagné M, Barton-Maclaren TS, Bradford LM, Rowan-Carroll A, Williams A, Meier MJ. High-throughput transcriptomics toxicity assessment of eleven data-poor bisphenol A alternatives. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 361:124827. [PMID: 39197648 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA), a widely used chemical in the production of plastics and epoxy resins, has garnered significant attention due to its association with adverse health effects, particularly its endocrine-disrupting properties. Regulatory measures aimed at reducing human exposure to BPA have led to a proliferation of alternative chemicals used in various consumer and industrial products. While these alternatives serve to reduce BPA exposure, concerns have arisen regarding their safety and potential toxicity as regrettable substitutes. Previous efforts have demonstrated that in vitro high-throughput transcriptomics (HTTr) studies can be used to assess the endocrine-disrupting potential of BPA alternatives, and this strategy produces transcriptomic points-of-departure (tPODs) that are protective of human health when compared to the PODs from traditional rodent studies. In this study, we used in vitro HTTr to assess the potential for toxicity of eleven data-poor legacy chemicals sharing structural similarities to BPA. Human breast cancer MCF-7 cells were exposed to BPA and 11 alternatives at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 25 μM to assess toxicity. Analysis of global transcriptomic changes and a previously characterized estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) transcriptomic biomarker signature revealed that 9 of 11 chemicals altered gene expression relative to controls. One of the chemicals (2,4'-Bisphenol A) activated the ERα biomarker at the same concentration as BPA (i.e., 4,4'-BPA) but was deemed to be more potent as it induced global transcriptomic changes at lower concentrations. These results address data gaps in support of ongoing screening assessments to identify BPA alternatives with hazard potential and help to identify potential candidates that may serve as safer alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc A Beal
- Bureau of Chemical Safety, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Canada.
| | - Melanie C Coughlan
- Bureau of Chemical Safety, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Canada
| | - Andrée Nunnikhoven
- Bureau of Chemical Safety, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Canada
| | - Matthew Gagné
- Existing Substances Risk Assessment Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Canada
| | - Tara S Barton-Maclaren
- Existing Substances Risk Assessment Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Canada
| | - Lauren M Bradford
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Canada
| | - Andrea Rowan-Carroll
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Canada
| | - Andrew Williams
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Canada
| | - Matthew J Meier
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Canada
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12
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Wang X, Liu Y, Jiang JM, Zhang XL, Li M, Hong WJ, Guo LH. Aggregated health risk assessment of perfluoroalkyl acids migrated from convenience food contact materials. J Food Sci 2024; 89:6774-6786. [PMID: 39218817 DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.17313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Ingestion of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) via contaminated food contact materials (FCMs) is an important human exposure source. This study adopts a toxicity equivalent approach to evaluate the collective health risk of multiple PFAAs in FCMs. A comprehensive extraction and analysis of 21 PFAAs in FCMs was performed. Among the analyzed substances, 15 PFAAs were detected. Migration experiment using three food simulants revealed the migration range of seven PFAAs from FCMs into the simulant to be 0.47-46.7 ng/cm2. The hazard quotient results suggest minimal health risk, except for 9% of packaged samples where perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) poses a higher risk. Utilizing PFOA toxic equivalent concentrations, comprehensive risk calculations showed ∼77% of samples potentially posing elevated health risks due to PFAA exposure. This emphasizes the substantial contribution of PFAAs beyond PFOA and underscores the importance of considering them in related assessments. The aggregated risk assessment reflects actual exposure circumstances more accurately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Wang
- College of Energy Environment and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yao Liu
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jian-Ming Jiang
- College of Energy Environment and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xi-Long Zhang
- College of Energy Environment and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Minjie Li
- College of Energy Environment and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wen-Jun Hong
- College of Energy Environment and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liang-Hong Guo
- College of Energy Environment and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
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13
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Taylor BD, Noah AI, Adekanmbi V, Zhang Y, Berenson AB. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances May Be Correlated With Chlamydia trachomatis: Data From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2016. J Occup Environ Med 2024; 66:750-756. [PMID: 38752649 PMCID: PMC11371533 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000003151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) alter immune function increasing infectious diseases risk. We examined the relationship between PFAS and chlamydia. METHODS A total of 3965 nonpregnant adults ages 18-39 years from the National Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2016 cycles were included. Poisson regression with robust error variance estimated the prevalence ratio and 95% confidence intervals for the association between PFAS and chlamydia. A g computation model was used to examine PFAS mixtures and chlamydia. RESULTS In adjusted age and sex-stratified models, an increase in PFAS mixtures by one quintile was associated with chlamydia in older males and younger females. Associations were not observed before stratification. CONCLUSIONS PFAS exposure associated with higher chlamydia prevalence, but only in stratified models suggesting biological differences by gender and age. However, small sample sizes could have affected the precision of our models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandie DePaoli Taylor
- From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (B.D.T., A.N., V.A., A.B.); Department of Population Health and Health Disparities, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (B.D.T.); Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (B.D.T., V.A., A.B.); and Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (Y.Z.)
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14
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Alijagic A, Sinisalu L, Duberg D, Kotlyar O, Scherbak N, Engwall M, Orešič M, Hyötyläinen T. Metabolic and phenotypic changes induced by PFAS exposure in two human hepatocyte cell models. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 190:108820. [PMID: 38906088 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
PFAS are ubiquitous industrial chemicals with known adverse health effects, particularly on the liver. The liver, being a vital metabolic organ, is susceptible to PFAS-induced metabolic dysregulation, leading to conditions such as hepatotoxicity and metabolic disturbances. In this study, we investigated the phenotypic and metabolic responses of PFAS exposure using two hepatocyte models, HepG2 (male cell line) and HepaRG (female cell line), aiming to define phenotypic alterations, and metabolic disturbances at the metabolite and pathway levels. The PFAS mixture composition was selected based on epidemiological data, covering a broad concentration spectrum observed in diverse human populations. Phenotypic profiling by Cell Painting assay disclosed predominant effects of PFAS exposure on mitochondrial structure and function in both cell models as well as effects on F-actin, Golgi apparatus, and plasma membrane-associated measures. We employed comprehensive metabolic characterization using liquid chromatography combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). We observed dose-dependent changes in the metabolic profiles, particularly in lipid, steroid, amino acid and sugar and carbohydrate metabolism in both cells as well as in cell media, with HepaRG cell line showing a stronger metabolic response. In cells, most of the bile acids, acylcarnitines and free fatty acids showed downregulation, while medium-chain fatty acids and carnosine were upregulated, while the cell media showed different response especially in relation to the bile acids in HepaRG cell media. Importantly, we observed also nonmonotonic response for several phenotypic features and metabolites. On the pathway level, PFAS exposure was also associated with pathways indicating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Taken together, our findings on PFAS-induced phenotypic and metabolic disruptions in hepatocytes shed light on potential mechanisms contributing to the broader comprehension of PFAS-related health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andi Alijagic
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden; Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Lisanna Sinisalu
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Daniel Duberg
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Oleksandr Kotlyar
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden; Centre for Applied Autonomous Sensor Systems (AASS), Mobile Robotics and Olfaction Lab (MRO), Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Nikolai Scherbak
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Magnus Engwall
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Matej Orešič
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden; Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, FI-20520 Turku, Finland; Department of Life Technologies, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Tuulia Hyötyläinen
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden.
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15
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Gao X, Campasino K, Yourick MR, Zhao Y, Sepehr E, Vaught C, Sprando RL, Yourick JJ. Comparison on the mechanism and potency of hepatotoxicity among hemp extract and its four major constituent cannabinoids. Toxicology 2024; 506:153885. [PMID: 39004335 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.153885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD) has been reported to induce hepatotoxicity in clinical trials and research studies; however, little is known about the safety of other nonintoxicating cannabinoids. New approach methodologies (NAMs) based on bioinformatic analysis of high-throughput transcriptomic data are gaining increasing importance in risk assessment and regulatory decision-making of data-poor chemicals. In the current study, we conducted a concentration response transcriptomic analysis of hemp extract and its four major constituent cannabinoids [CBD, cannabichromene (CBC), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabinol (CBN)] in hepatocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Each compound impacted a distinctive combination of biological functions and pathways. However, all the cannabinoids impaired liver metabolism and caused oxidative stress in the cells. Benchmark concentration (BMC) analysis showed potencies in transcriptional activity of the cannabinoids were in the order of CBN > CBD > CBC > CBG, consistent with the order of their cytotoxicity IC50 values. Patterns of transcriptomic changes induced by hemp extract and its median overall BMC were very similar to CBD but differed significantly from other cannabinoids, suggesting that potential adverse effects of hemp extract were largely due to its major constituent CBD. Lastly, transcriptomic point-of-departure (tPoD) values were determined for each of the compounds, with the value for CBD (0.106 µM) being concordant with a previously reported one derived from apical endpoints of clinical and animal studies. Taken together, the current study demonstrates the potential utility of transcriptomic BMC analysis as a NAM for hazard assessment of data-poor chemicals, improves our understanding of the possible health effects of hemp extract and its constituent cannabinoids, and provides important tPoD data that could contribute to inform human safety assessment of these cannabinoid compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiugong Gao
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, USA.
| | - Kayla Campasino
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, USA
| | - Miranda R Yourick
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, USA
| | - Yang Zhao
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, USA
| | - Estatira Sepehr
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, USA
| | - Cory Vaught
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, USA
| | - Robert L Sprando
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Yourick
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, USA
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16
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Barutcu AR, Black MB, Andersen ME. Transcriptomic re-analyses of human hepatocyte spheroids treated with PFAS reveals chain length and dose-dependent modes of action. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2024; 489:117013. [PMID: 38936668 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2024.117013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
To identify pathway perturbations and examine biological modes of action (MOAs) for various perfluoroalkyl substances, we re-analyzed published in vitro gene expression studies from human primary liver spheroids. With treatment times ranging from 10 to 14 days, shorter-chain PFAS (those with 6 or fewer fluorinated carbon atoms in the alkyl chain) showed enrichment for pathways of fatty acid metabolism and fatty acid beta-oxidation with upregulated genes. Longer-chain PFAS compounds, specifically PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), PFDS (perfluorodecane sulfonate), and higher doses of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), had enrichment for pathways involved in steroid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and biological oxidation for downregulated genes. Although PFNA (perfluorononanoic acid), PFDA (perfluorodecanoic acid), and PFUnDA (perfluoroundecanoic acid) were more toxic and could only be examined after a 1-day treatment, all three had enrichment patterns similar to those observed with PFOS. With PFOA there were dose-dependent changes in pathway enrichment, shifting from upregulation of fatty acid metabolism and downregulation of steroid metabolism to downregulation of both at higher doses. The response to PFHpS (perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid) was similar to the PFOA pattern at the lower treatment dose. Based on results of transcription factor binding sites analyses, we propose that downregulation of pathways of lipid metabolism by longer chain PFAS may be due to inhibitory interactions of PPARD on genes controlled by PPARA and PPARG. In conclusion, our transcriptomic analysis indicates that the biological MOAs of PFAS compounds differ according to chain length and dose, and that risk assessments for PFAS should consider these differences in biological MOAs when evaluating mixtures of these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Rasim Barutcu
- ScitoVation LLC, Research Triangle Park, Suite 146, NC, USA.
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17
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Luo YS, Ying RY, Chen XT, Yeh YJ, Wei CC, Chan CC. Integrating high-throughput phenotypic profiling and transcriptomic analyses to predict the hepatosteatosis effects induced by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:133891. [PMID: 38457971 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is a large compound class (n > 12,000) that is extensively present in food, drinking water, and aquatic environments. Reduced serum triglycerides and hepatosteatosis appear to be the common phenotypes for different PFAS chemicals. However, the hepatosteatosis potential of most PFAS chemicals remains largely unknown. This study aims to investigate PFAS-induced hepatosteatosis using in vitro high-throughput phenotype profiling (HTPP) and high-throughput transcriptomic (HTTr) data. We quantified the in vitro hepatosteatosis effects and mitochondrial damage using high-content imaging, curated the transcriptomic data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and then calculated the point of departure (POD) values for HTPP phenotypes or HTTr transcripts, using the Bayesian benchmark dose modeling approach. Our results indicated that PFAS compounds with fully saturated C-F bonds, sulfur- and nitrogen-containing functional groups, and a fluorinated carbon chain length greater than 8 have the potential to produce biological effects consistent with hepatosteatosis. PFAS primarily induced hepatosteatosis via disturbance in lipid transport and storage. The potency rankings of PFAS compounds are highly concordant among in vitro HTPP, HTTr, and in vivo hepatosteatosis phenotypes (ρ = 0.60-0.73). In conclusion, integrating the information from in vitro HTPP and HTTr analyses can accurately project in vivo hepatosteatosis effects induced by PFAS compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Syuan Luo
- Institute of Food Safety and Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan; Master of Public Health Program, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
| | - Ren-Yan Ying
- Institute of Food Safety and Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Xsuan-Ting Chen
- Institute of Food Safety and Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jia Yeh
- Institute of Food Safety and Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Cheng Wei
- Institute of Food Safety and Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Chuan Chan
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
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18
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Ford LC, Lin HC, Tsai HHD, Zhou YH, Wright FA, Sedykh A, Shah RR, Chiu WA, Rusyn I. Hazard and risk characterization of 56 structurally diverse PFAS using a targeted battery of broad coverage assays using six human cell types. Toxicology 2024; 503:153763. [PMID: 38423244 PMCID: PMC11214689 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.153763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are extensively used in commerce leading to their prevalence in the environment. Due to their chemical stability, PFAS are considered to be persistent and bioaccumulative; they are frequently detected in both the environment and humans. Because of this, PFAS as a class (composed of hundreds to thousands of chemicals) are contaminants of very high concern. Little information is available for the vast majority of PFAS, and regulatory agencies lack safety data to determine whether exposure limits or restrictions are needed. Cell-based assays are a pragmatic approach to inform decision-makers on potential health hazards; therefore, we hypothesized that a targeted battery of human in vitro assays can be used to determine whether there are structure-bioactivity relationships for PFAS, and to characterize potential risks by comparing bioactivity (points of departure) to exposure estimates. We tested 56 PFAS from 8 structure-based subclasses in concentration response (0.1-100 μM) using six human cell types selected from target organs with suggested adverse effects of PFAS - human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived hepatocytes, neurons, and cardiomyocytes, primary human hepatocytes, endothelial and HepG2 cells. While many compounds were without effect; certain PFAS demonstrated cell-specific activity highlighting the necessity of using a compendium of in vitro models to identify potential hazards. No class-specific groupings were evident except for some chain length- and structure-related trends. In addition, margins of exposure (MOE) were derived using empirical and predicted exposure data. Conservative MOE calculations showed that most tested PFAS had a MOE in the 1-100 range; ∼20% of PFAS had MOE<1, providing tiered priorities for further studies. Overall, we show that a compendium of human cell-based models can be used to derive bioactivity estimates for a range of PFAS, enabling comparisons with human biomonitoring data. Furthermore, we emphasize that establishing structure-bioactivity relationships may be challenging for the tested PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie C Ford
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Hsing-Chieh Lin
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Han-Hsuan D Tsai
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Yi-Hui Zhou
- Department of Biological Sciences and Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Fred A Wright
- Department of Biological Sciences and Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | | | | | - Weihsueh A Chiu
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Ivan Rusyn
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
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19
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Sadrabadi F, Alarcan J, Sprenger H, Braeuning A, Buhrke T. Impact of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and PFAS mixtures on lipid metabolism in differentiated HepaRG cells as a model for human hepatocytes. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:507-524. [PMID: 38117326 PMCID: PMC10794458 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03649-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmental contaminants with various adverse health effects in humans including disruption of lipid metabolism. Aim of the present study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of PFAS-mediated effects on lipid metabolism in human cells. Here, we examined the impact of a number of PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxA, PFBA, PFHxS, PFBS, HFPO-DA, and PMPP) and of some exposure-relevant PFAS mixtures being composed of PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS on lipid metabolism in human HepaRG cells, an in vitro model for human hepatocytes. At near cytotoxic concentrations, the selected PFAS and PFAS mixtures induced triglyceride accumulation in HepaRG cells and consistently affected the expression of marker genes for steatosis, as well as PPARα target genes and genes related to lipid and cholesterol metabolism, pointing to common molecular mechanisms of PFAS in disrupting cellular lipid and cholesterol homeostasis. PPARα activation was examined by a transactivation assay in HEK293T cells, and synergistic effects were observed for the selected PFAS mixtures at sum concentrations higher than 25 µM, whereas additivity was observed at sum concentrations lower than 25 µM. Of note, any effect observed in the in vitro assays occurred at PFAS concentrations that were at least four to five magnitudes above real-life internal exposure levels of the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faezeh Sadrabadi
- Department of Food Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jimmy Alarcan
- Department of Food Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heike Sprenger
- Department of Food Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Albert Braeuning
- Department of Food Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thorsten Buhrke
- Department of Food Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany.
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20
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Wang X, Rowan-Carroll A, Meier MJ, Williams A, Yauk CL, Hales BF, Robaire B. Toxicological Mechanisms and Potencies of Organophosphate Esters in KGN Human Ovarian Granulosa Cells as Revealed by High-throughput Transcriptomics. Toxicol Sci 2023; 197:kfad114. [PMID: 37941476 PMCID: PMC10823774 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the growing number of studies reporting potential risks associated with exposure to organophosphate esters (OPEs), their molecular mechanisms of action remain poorly defined. We used the high-throughput TempO-Seq™ platform to investigate the effects of frequently detected OPEs on the expression of ∼3000 environmentally responsive genes in KGN human ovarian granulosa cells. Cells were exposed for 48 h to one of five OPEs (0.1 to 50 μM): tris(methylphenyl) phosphate (TMPP), isopropylated triphenyl phosphate (IPPP), tert-butylphenyl diphenyl phosphate (BPDP), triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), or tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP). The sequencing data indicate that four OPEs induced transcriptional changes, whereas TBOEP had no effect within the concentration range tested. Multiple pathway databases were used to predict alterations in biological processes based on differentially expressed genes. At lower concentrations, inhibition of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway was the predominant effect of OPEs; this was likely a consequence of intracellular cholesterol accumulation. At higher concentrations, BPDP and TPHP had distinct effects, primarily affecting pathways involved in cell cycle progression and other stress responses. Benchmark concentration (BMC) modelling revealed that BPDP had the lowest transcriptomic point of departure. However, in vitro to in vivo extrapolation modeling indicated that TMPP was bioactive at lower concentrations than the other OPEs. We conclude that these new approach methodologies provide information on the mechanism(s) underlying the effects of data-poor compounds and assist in the derivation of protective points of departure for use in chemical read-across and decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Andrea Rowan-Carroll
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K2K 0K9, Canada
| | - Matthew J Meier
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K2K 0K9, Canada
| | - Andrew Williams
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K2K 0K9, Canada
| | - Carole L Yauk
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9A7, Canada
| | - Barbara F Hales
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Bernard Robaire
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
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